Rack.



W. A. HUNT.

RACK.

APPLICATION min MN. 21. I914.

1,259,403. Patented I 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. A. HUNT.

RACK.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.2I. 19m.

Patenwd a1. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. A. HUNT.

RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. I914. 1,259AQ3. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. A. HUNT.

RACK.

APPLICATI ON FILED JAN- 21. I914.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 FFEQE.

WILLIAM A. HUNT, OF NEST LEBANON, INDIANA, ASS IGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRANK R. FENCE, OF FENCE, INDIANA.

RACK.

naeaees.

Application filed January 21,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM A. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Lebanon, in the county of Warren and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hay racks and the like, its principal object being to provide an all metal rack frame having means adjustably connected thereto whereby the rack can be adjusted vertically at either or both ends relative to the bolsters supporting it and whereby it can be arranged to fit upon bolsters arranged at different distances apart.

Another object is to provide means whereby the rack can be readily disconnected from its supporting structure.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby the end frames of the rack can be readily placed in or removed from position.

A further object is to provide improved means for detachably securing the sides and ends of the rack to the bottom frame of the rack.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resldes in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rack embodying the present improvements, the same being provided with upstanding end frames and with side boards.

Fig. 2 is a section on line A-B Fig. 1, the floor and side boards being removed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the rack.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the bolster engaging brackets and the adjacent part of the bottom frame of the rack.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the intermediate end standards and of the means Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

191 Serial No. 813,505.

provided for attaching it to the bottom frame.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line CD Fig. 1, said section being taken through one side portion of the rack.

Fi 8 is a perspective view of one of the attaching devices used in connection with a side board.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an outer standard used in connection with the side board.

Fig. 10' is a horizontal section through one corner portion of the rack and showing the manner of assembling the end and side boards of a wagon body.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of rack.

Fig. 12 is a side ele ation thereof and showing the side board and floor in position.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged section on line E-F Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section through one side portion of the rack shown in Figs. 11 and 12 taken on line M-N Fig. 11 and showing a portion of one of the cross members in elevation.

Fig. 15 is a section on line GH Fig. 14-.

Fig. 16 is a section on line IJ Fig. 11.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a portion of one side of the rack when provided with the side board of a wagon body.

Fig. 18 is a vertical transverse section through the structure shown in Fig. 17 but showing the angle strip 47 in elevation.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged section on the line KL Fig. 12, and showing the arrangement of the side and end board of a wagon body formed on the rack.

Fig. 20 is a detail view of one of the corner couplings of the rack.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates longitudinal beams which, in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 1-, are channeled metallic members. These beams support and are connected by transverse beams 2 which, in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to at, are likewise formed of channeled members. These beams 2 are adapted to support the wooden floor 3 of the rack and formed in the end portions of the intermediate beams 2 are apertures 4 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Secured to the outer side of each beam 1 are brackets 5, each of which is made up of a depending yoke 6 from the inner end of which projects an upwardly extending tongue 7 engaging the outer side of the beam 1. This tongue is secured to the beam by means of bolts 8 or the like and a longi-' tudinal series of apertures 9 is formed within the tongue 7 while another series of apertures 10 is formed within the beam 1. Thus it will be seen that the tongue 7 can be adjusted vertically relative to the beam 1 or can be adjusted longitudinally of said beam. Consequently, the yoke 6 can be brought to any desired distance below the bottom of the beam 1 and the front and rear yokes can be adjusted toward or from each other. These yokes are adapted to straddle the front and rear bolsters of the running gear of a vehicle and, consequently, this means of adjustment enables the rack to be mounted upon bolsters located different distances apart and various .distances above the supporting bolsters.

Each of the end cross beams 2 is adapted to project, at its ends, into upstanding angle strips 11 forming the sides of an end frame 12 and the lower end portions of these angle strips 11 are detachably connected to the end cross beams 2 by means of bolts 13 extending through the meeting portions of the beams 2 and strips 11 and engaged by nuts 14: preferably provided with levers 15 whereby they can be rotated readily. The intermediate portions of each frame 12 are provided with upstanding angle strips 16 and, as shown in Fig. 6, the lower portion of each of these angle strips 16 has its outstanding flange cut away at its lower end, thus to form a rounded stop shoulder 17. Secured to each end cross beam 2 are upper and lower brack ets 18 and 19 designed to receive these intermediate strips 16. The upper bracket is so shaped as to receive both the base and the flange portion of the strip 16 while the bracket 19 is so shaped as to receive only the base portion of the angle strip, the shoulder 17 being adapted to bear downwardly on this bracket 19, thus to limit the downward movement of the strip 16 relative to the beam 2. The lower bracket 19 may, of course, be dispensed with if desired the upper ones either holding the angle strips 16 in place alone, or bolts may be used or some other fastening means, to firmly fasten the extreme ends of the angle strips 16 to the end cross beams 2. Side boards 20 may be mounted on the side portions of the floor 3 and the ends of these side boards are adapted to fit within the standards 11, as shown in Fig. 10. Each side board has angle strips 21 secured to the outer side thereof and projecting downwardly so as to lap the sides of the floor 3 and the ends of the intermediate cross beams 2. Secured to the inner side of each of the boards 20 are strips 22 having depending fingers 23 adapted to project into the openings 4. The side portions of the floor 3 are also provided with openings 4: registering with the openings 4;

be understood of course that it is not always desirable to use the end boards 25, these only being employed, in connection with the side boards 20, when it is desired to provide a wagon box for holding corn and the like. If desired the end boards can be dispensed with and the end frames 12 used eitherwith or without the side boards 20. Also, if de sired, the end frames can be detached readily as will be obvious.

As shown in Fig. 2, the beams 1 converge forwardly and, in order that the forward yokes 5 will not be held too close together to fit the front bolster by reason of its construction, it is preferred, as shown in Fig. 2, to reverse the forward yokes 5 so that they will extend outwardly from the beams 1, while the rear yokes are extended inwardly under the beams.

While the floor supporting frame and the end frames of the rack can be made up of angle and channel strips, as shown, it is to be understood that, if preferred, they can be made up of tubular members as shown in Figs. 11 to 19 inclusive. By referring to these figures it will be seen that the rack includes tubular longitudinal members 26 on the end and intermediate portions of which are arranged sleeves 27, each sleeve being provided with a transverse yoke or seat 28 upon the top thereof. Each sleeve may be held against movement upon its supporting member 26 in any suitable manner, as by means of a set screw 29. The yokes 28 on the two beams or members 26 are disposed directly opposite each other, and con stitute seats for tubular transverse members 30 which can be detachably secured to the yokes in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 31 passing through the yokes and into the tubular members. intermediate transverse members 30 are provided with apertures 32 in the end portions thereof for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Secured upon the end portions of the end members 30 are couplings each of which is made up of sleeves 33 and 34 which are preferably integral with each other and are disposed at right angles one to the other, the sleeves 34 being extended vertically while the sleeves 33 are arranged horizontally. The sleeves 3d are adapted to receive the tubular side members 35 of the end frames 36, these side members being secured within the sleeves 34. by means of bolts 37 The I which extend diametrically through the sleeves 33, 34 and the tubular members 30 36 can be removed from the end cross members 30. The side members 35 of the end frames are provided with angular brackets 41 adapted to lap the ends of side boards 42 and the ends of end boards 43, as shown particularly in F 19. These brackets 41 are preferably provided with sleeves 44 which extend around the members 35 and are held against movement relative thereto by means of set screws 45 or the like.

It is to be understood that the members 30 support a floor 46 which extends up to the end frames 36 and may be used either with or without the end and with or Without end and side boards. Where side boards 42 are used, they rest upon the side portions of the floor. Each side board has angle strips 47 secured to the outer face thereof and extending downwardly as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, so as to lap the edge of the floor 46 and the ends of the crossmembers 30. Each side board 42 is also provided with strips 48 upon the inner side thereof and from which extend fingers 49 which eX- tend downwardly through openings 50 in the floor 46 and into the openings 32 hereinbefore described. Obviously by providing the side boards 42 with cleats 51 near the ends thereof, the end boards 32 can be inserted downwardly between wings 41 and the cleats 51-as shown in Fig. 19. Both the ends and the side boards can be readily lifted out of position and as before stated, by removing the fastening devices 37, 39 and 40, the end frames 36 can be removed.

Mounted on each of the longitudinal members 26 are sleeves 52 having depending portions 53 to which are adjust-ably connected tongues 54 extending upwardly from depending yokes 55. These tongues are adapted to be adjusted vertically relative to the sleeves 52 in the same manner as are the tongues 7 hereinbefore described. Set screws or the like are provided for holding the sleeves 52 against movement along the members 26, one of these set screws being shown at 56. It will beapparent that by loosening the set screws, the sleeves 52 can be adjusted longitudinally along the members 26 and the yokes 55 thus brought to any desired positions relative to each other. Consequently the rack can be arranged to fit upon bolsters disposed at any distances apart.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, braces such as indicated at 57 can be provided for connecting the cross beams or members 2 to the longitudinal members 1.

Vhat is claimed is 1. A. detachable and adjustable wagon rack comprising a floor supporting frame, including longitudinal members; and bolster engaging yokes, adapted to engage the bolsters of the running gear of a wagon, carried by said longitudinal members and horizontally and vertically adjustable with reference thereto. I

2. A detachable and adjustable wagon rack comprising a floor supporting frame, including longitudinal members; and bolster engaging elements comprising yokes, adapted to engage the bolsters of the running gear of a Wagon, and a strap extending upwardly from one edge of each yoke, said straps being fastened to said longitudinal members and horizontally and vertically adjustable with reference thereto.

3. A detachable and adjustable wagon rack comprising a floor supporting frame, including longitudinal members; and bolster engaging elements comprising straps, fastened to said longitudinal members and adjustable horizontally and vertically with reference thereto, and yokes formed integral with the lower ends of said straps and adapted to engage the bolsters of the running gear of a wagon, there being a pair of said yokes for each bolster, one pair of said yokes being offset inwardly with reference to said straps and the other pair of yokes being offset outwardly.

4. A detachable and adjustable wagon rack comprising a floor supporting frame, including transverse and longitudinal mem bers; a floor on said frame; sideboards disposed with their lower edges resting on said floor; straps fastened to the outer faces of said sideboards, the lower ends thereof lapping the edge of said floor and the ends of said transverse members; and straps fastened to the inner faces of said sideboards and provided with depending fingers extending through said floor into openings in said transverse members.

5. A detachable and adjustable wagon rack comprising a floor supporting frame, including tubular, longitudinal members; and bolster engaging elements each comprising a sleeve, adjustable horizontally on the longitudinal member and having a depending tongue, and a yoke, adapted to engage a bolster of the running gear of a wagon, and provided with an upwardly extending tongue fastened to said depending tongue and vertically adjustable with reference thereto.

6. A wagon rack including tubular longitudinal members, tubular transverse members secured thereon, a floor secured on and supported by the transverse members, end frames made up of connectedtubular members and detachably secured to the end transverse members, brackets adjustably mounted on the side portions of the end frames, and side and end boards detachably engaging the brackets.

7. A Wagon rack including tubular longitudinal members, tubular transverse memmounted on the side portions of the end frames, side boards supported by the floor and bearing laterally against the brackets,

and end boards interposed between the ends of the side boards and inside the end frames. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HUNT. Witnesses: V

SELINA WILLSON, I. E. SIMPSON.

Goggles of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fGommissioner of lEatents Washington, D. G. 

